Vehicle for golf bag



April 22, 1969 F, MURRAY 3,439,929

VEHICLE FOR GOLF BAG Filed May 9, 1968 INVENTOR JOSEPH F. MURRAY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,439,929 VEHICLE FOR GOLF BAG Joseph F. Murray, 42 Arden Road, Watertown, Mass. 02172 Filed May 9, 1968, Ser. No. 727,917 Int. 'Cl. 1562b 13/06, 17/00 US. Cl. 280-18 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE This invention relates to a sled or ski adapted to carry a golf bag and to be drawn therewith over the ground, riding smoothly over depressions in the ground such as are apt to make the going difficult for wheeled vehicles such as are frequently used for transporting golf bags. The golf bag is mounted on a platform which is hinged at its forward edge to the ski so that the bag can stand upright when at rest or can incline forward when being pulled along. A convenient handle is provided and limber elements to provide shock absorption on the handle when the ski is moving over rough ground.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description thereof and to the drawing, of which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the same, on a larger scale;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the same, the section being taken on a central longitudinal vertical plane;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 3, enlarged; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

As illustrated on the drawing the floor of the sled or ski is a rectangular sheet of suitable material such, for example, as aluminum, the forward end portion being slightly tapered and curved upward as at 12. To stiffen the floor, the side margins 14 are bent upward and shallow ribs 16 may be indented to extend longitudinally. Secured by rivets, spot welding, or otherwise, to the side walls 14 are longitudinally extending runners 20. These may conveniently be pieces of extruded aluminum stock arranged as indicated in FIGURE 5 with a vertical wall 22 against the corresponding side wall 14 and a cylindrically curved portion 24 extending under the floor 10 and convex downwardly to present a wide cylindrical surface for contact with the ground. This arrangement provides for a limited upward yielding of the runners and cushions the jolt if a runner 20 comes upon a protuberance when in motion since the walls 14 and 22 can yield resiliently to a limited degree.

To support a golf bag (indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 1) a receptacle for the lower end of the bag is mounted on the floor 10 of the sled. The receptacle comprises a bottom plate 30 and side walls 36. The bottom plate 30 is hinged at its forward end, as at 32, to the fioor of the sled. The bottom plate is preferably but not necessarily rectangular, as shown, with turned up 3,439,929 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 "ice side and rear edges 34 for stiffness. The walls 36 are preferably oval or circular to fit the shape of the bag. From the forward end of the wall 36 a rod or strip 40 extends vertically to a height equal to that of a golf bag, then is inclined forward about 45 to extend to a terminal handle 42. The strip 40 is preferably of resilient material and may be made of a suitable metal or plastic, the thickness of the strip being such as to render the member as a whole quite limber and subject to a limiting degree of twist.

A suitable band or girdle 44 is secured to the strip 40 in position to encircle a golf bag near the upper end thereof. This can be of any desired material. By way of example it is shown as a metal loop the ends of which can be welded together or secured by a bolt 46 or other fastener.

When the ski is at rest, the bag stands vertically or slightly tilted to the rear if the ski is on level ground. When the handle 42 is grasped and pulled forward, the bag tilts forward about 45 and the forward portions of the runners 20 slide smoothly over the ground. When unevenness of the ground is encountered, the cushioning effect of the runners 20 and the limber strip 40 prevents tipping and dissipates jolts from reaching the handle 42. Comparative stability of the vehicle results from the fact that instead of a one-point contact with the ground on each side, as is the case with a two-wheeled vehicle, each runner has contact for a substantial distance on each side so that when a depression in the ground is encountered on one side of the vehicle, the runner 20 is apt to ride over it whereas a wheeled vehicle is apt to tip over. The limber strip 40 also helps to promote stability of the vehicle since an incipient tilt of the vehicle causes a slight twist in the strip 40 which is felt at the handle 42 and results in an immediate reflex tug on the handle tending to oppose the tilt and to restore the upright position.

The friction of the runners on the ground is sufiiciently small to facilitate the operation of towing the ski along, but is sufficient to prevent the vehicle from running away if it gets loose on a slope or from bumping the heels of the golfer on a down-slope. Pulling the ski and bag along can thus be done in comfort even over rough ground.

I claim:

1. A vehicle for a golf bag comprising a sled adapted to slide over the ground, a receptacle on said sled for the lower portion of a golf bag, said receptacle being pivotally attached at its forward end to said sled whereby it can be tilted forward, and means extending up from said receptacle in position to be grasped whereby said receptacle can be tilted forward and said vehicle can be drawn forward.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, said receptacle comprising a platform hinged at its forward end to said sled and a wall on said platform adapted to fit around the lower end of a golf bag.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, said sled having upwardly yielding runners under its side margins.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, each said runner presenting a wide cylindrical surface for contact with the ground.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, said upwardly extending means comprising a resilient strip rising vertically to approximately the height of a golf bag, then inclining forward.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, and a girdle attached to said strip at a height to embrace the upper end 2,520,226 8/1950 Smith 280-36 portion of a golf bag mounted in said receptacle.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

Refmnces Cited ROBERT R. SONG, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,220,640 5/1917 Kelly 248--129 280 36 20 2,308,699 1/1943 Longenecker 2s0 19 

